Shloka 4

The Discourse of Rukmāṅgada

Prabodhinī Ekādaśī, Kārtika-vrata, and Satya-dharma

Devanagari script

स्थातुं कमलगर्भाभ किं पुनर्माससंख्यया । यत्रोपवासकरणं मन्यसे वसुधाधिप ॥ ४ ॥

Transliteration

sthātuṃ kamalagarbhābha kiṃ punarmāsasaṃkhyayā | yatropavāsakaraṇaṃ manyase vasudhādhipa || 4 ||

Translation

ஓ கமலகர்ப்பனே (பிரம்மா), மாதங்களை எண்ணிப் பேச வேண்டியது என்ன! ஓ பூமியின் அதிபதியே, நீ எங்கு உபவாசம் செய்ய வேண்டும் எனக் கருதுகிறாயோ, அங்கேயே அதன் பலன் உறுதி.

Word by Word

• sthātum: to stay, to stand
• sthātum: Prayojana (प्रयोजन/purpose)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √sthā (स्था धातु)
• Form: तुमुन्-प्रत्ययान्त अव्ययकृदन्त (infinitive)

• kamala-garbha-ābha: O one whose splendor is like a lotus-womb (lotus-like)
• kamala-garbha-ābha: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन/vocative)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kamala (प्रातिपदिक) + garbha (प्रातिपदिक) + ābha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन-विभक्ति, एकवचन; बहुव्रीहि (कमलगर्भ इव आभा यस्य)

• kim: what?
• kim: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/interrogative)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: kim (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: प्रश्नार्थक-अव्यय (interrogative particle)

• punar: then, moreover
• punar: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: punar (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (adverb: 'again/then/more so')

• māsa-saṃkhyayā: by a count of months
• māsa-saṃkhyayā: Kāla-adhikaraṇa (काल-अधिकरण/by time measure)
• Type: Noun
• Root: māsa (प्रातिपदिक) + saṃkhyā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (मासानां संख्या)

• yatra: where
• yatra: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण/location)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: yatra (अव्यय)
• Form: सम्बन्धबोधक-अव्यय (relative adverb: 'where')

• upavāsa-karaṇam: the act of fasting
• upavāsa-karaṇam: Karma (कर्म/thing intended)
• Type: Noun
• Root: upavāsa (प्रातिपदिक) + karaṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (उपवासस्य करणम्)

• manyase: you think, you suppose
• manyase: Kriya (क्रिया/verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √man (मन् धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (present), मध्यम-पुरुष, एकवचन; आत्मनेपद

• vasudhā-adhipa: O lord of the earth
• vasudhā-adhipa: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन/vocative)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vasudhā (प्रातिपदिक) + adhipa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन-विभक्ति, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (वसुधायाः अधिपः)

Speaker

Suta (narrative voice, reporting the teaching)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Characters & Entities

• Brahma

FAQs

What is the spiritual significance of this verse in Narada Purana?

It emphasizes that the essence of a vrata is sincere upavāsa (self-restraint/fasting); merit is not dependent on elaborate time-counting but on the earnest undertaking of the discipline.

How does this verse explain the path of devotion (Bhakti)?

By valuing inner resolve over external calculation, it supports bhakti-oriented practice: fasting becomes an offering of restraint and remembrance, rather than a merely calendrical obligation.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

Indirectly, it downplays excessive reliance on calendrical computation (Jyotiṣa) when compared to the core dharmic intent of performing the vow—though proper timing remains useful, sincerity is primary.